Wednesday, April 21, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
Major League Baseball
Ripken on disabled list
Back pain forces third baseman out
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — The words, in tiny type on the transaction list, had never before been written:
BALTIMORE ORIOLES —
Placed 3B Cal Ripken on 15-day
disabled list.
Ripken, baseball's iron Man, went on the disabled list Monday for the first time in his 19-year career. The move, made because Ripken has a sore back, is retroactive to Sunday.
“It’s remarkable he’s gone this long without being put on the disabled list,” Orioles’ general manager Frank Wren said. “The pounding he takes, the work ethic he has, it’s just amazing this had not happened before.”
While playing in a record 2,632 straight games from May 1982 to September 1998, Ripken endured all sorts of bumps and bruises — in addition to two sprained ankles and a twisted knee.
But the chink in his armor apparently is located at the base of his spine.
The third baseman missed his fourth game this season Sunday because of nerve irritation in his lower back and immediately traveled to Cleveland to receive treatment from Henry Bohlman, professor of orthopedics at Case Western University.
Ripken, 38, received a cortisone shot and was advised to stay off the field for the next couple of weeks.
"Right now we're going with rehabilitation and therapy. He will get a few more cortisone shots, relax a little bit and take the full two weeks to work his way back." Wren said.
Wren said surgery was not an option at this time.
Ripken, whose father, Cal Sr., died shortly before the season started, was removed in the third inning of the Orioles' opener on April 5 because of back pain. He then sat out Baltimore's next game — the first game he missed because of injury since his rookie season in 1982.
Ripken also missed the Orioles'
next game and was benched in
Foronto last week after committing two errors on one play the
night before in New York against
the Yankees. Ripken is 5-for-28
this season and has five errors in
eight games.
"There's no question his back has affected his
he knew it was time to get further treatment.
"He got a cortisone shot the last time he had trouble with his back, during the first week of the season." Wren said. "He wanted to get back quickly, as one would expect. But this time he needs to go slower."
Last Sept. 20, Ripken voluntarily ended his record consecutive games streak by sitting out the Orioles' final home game against the New York Yankees. It was the first game he missed since beginning his record streak on May 30, 1982.
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds will be out of the lineup for at least 2 1/2 months after surgery yesterday on his throwing arm.
The All-Star left fielder underwent an operation to repair a triceps tendon in his left arm and a bone spur in his elbow.
"The prognosis is that Barry may return to competition in a minimum of 10 weeks' time," Montgomery said. "Given his history of recovery from previous surgeries, we're very optimistic that he will return without incident."
San Francisco Giants' team physician Bill Montgomery said Bonds was expected to be released from the hospital yesterday and fitted for a brace this week.
This is only the second time in his 12-year career Bonds has been on the disabled list.
It is not certain how Bonds hurt his arm, but Manager Dusty Baker suspects it's just wear and tear.
On Monday an MRI revealed the problems. Bonds skipped that day's game, a 5-4 victory against the Florida Marlins, and got a second opinion from San Jose Sharks' team physician Art Ting, who confirmed the diagnosis.
Bonds spent his other stint on the disabled list in 1992 when he was with Pittsburgh. He had a strained right side then.
"Barry's not one to complain,"
Baker said. "He knew something was wrong, and something was wrong."
The team got the news late Monday night after beating the Marlins. Bonds was batting .366 with four home runs and 12 RBI.
"You can't replace Barry Bonds." General Manager Brian Sabean said. "It will be a test of our character and the depth of our team. It's something we're going to have to deal with and depend on Dusty's ability to mix and match."
After Monday's game, the clubhouse stereo, which usually blares loud music after home wins, was silent.
"We're going to miss him because he creates a lot of things for the team," said Stan Javier, who replaced Bonds in left field.
Schott sells controlling interest in Reds
The Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Marge Schott signed a $67 million deal yesterday to sell controlling interest in the Cincinnati Reds to a group headed by Carl Lindner, currently one of the team's limited partners.
Schott, 70, owns 6 1/2 of the 15 shares in the team's partnership, including the shares that make her the general partner. She agreed to sell 5 1/2 of her shares, including the general partner shares, to Lindner and two other limited partners.
The deal, in which 36.6 percent of the Reds' shares would change hands, values the franchise at about $182 million. The sale is subject to the approval of major league owners, a process that usually takes six to 15 months but might move faster in the case because the purchasers already are in the partnership.
General manager Jim Bowden called it a great day for Cincinnati baseball. He also said he and managing executive John
Allen would remain in place.
Bowden said Lindner, who owns the Great American Insurance Co., played a pivotal role in getting him an extension as general manager last year.
Schott, who will remain on as a limited partner, was ordered by baseball officials last year to sell her controlling interest or face an extension of what amounts to a suspension from most of the team's operations.
Although details of the sale weren't disclosed, a source familiar with the talks, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Schott would get to keep a luxury suite, an office at the stadium and a group of seats.
However, major league baseball has the right to delete those provisions and is expected to prevent her from keeping an office at the stadium.
The agreement completes four months of meandering attempts by Schott to sell her controlling interest in the team. She
in February,
then tried to
back out and
sell to a
group led by
her cousin,
Steve, for $67
million.
reached an agreement with Larry Dolan, the brother of Cablevision Systems Corp.'s chairman, to sell for $65 million
Lindner and the two other limited partners,
George Strike and William Reik, sued Schott last week in
Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. The limited partners said she was denying them their contractual right to match the Dolan offer and buy her out.
A judge granted the limited partners a temporary restraining order last Friday, putting more pressure on Schott to reach a deal.
Schott: Signed $67 million deal after pressure from baseball officials
Royals look for elusive home wins
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Sweeney isn't ready to blame some dark. unseen force.
"I don't see a Kauffman Stadium curse," said the Kansas City catcher.
Oh. yeah?
"We need to stop this curse," said an equally puzzled Johnny Damon.
Whether the Royals are victims of some wicked sorcerer's evil hand or simply not suited for their picturesque house park may, in the end, be impossible to know.
What is known is that the team that led the major leagues with 51 home losses last year while playing
tive games above .500 on the road seems bent on repeating its frustrating pattern, and groans can be heard all the way from the fancy new dugout steps to the highest levels of the plushly carpeted front office.
"We go on the road and win, then we come home and in the same kind of games, we lose," said Sweeney. "It's terribly frustrating."
After failing to hold a lead in the seventh inning Monday night and bowing 6-4 to Minnesota, the Royals were 1-6 in Kauffman Stadium.
Again like last year, they're road winners, going 3-2 in their first trip of 1999.
Last year, despite their consistent failings at home, their 43-38 road record was second in the American League only to the 52-29 mark of the World Series champion New York Yankees.
"How disappointing that it's happening again," Manager Tony Muser said.
Muser spent much of the winter pondering his club's curious inability to win at home. While Muser pondered, workmen worked, upgrading the 26-year-old facility, putting in expensive new suites, replacing most of the original seating and refurbishing and improving the dugout and clubhouse, giving the players' dressing quarters the look and feel of a warm, softly lightened hotel lobby.
But isn't it much too early in the season to start worrying that the same Kauffman curse has again befallen the Royals?
"No, not at all," said Damon, a three-year veteran outfielder who's off to a terrible start. "There’s no way we should be 1-6 at home. We go to Chicago last week and win three. Then we come home and lose two out of three to Chicago. Maybe we try too hard here because we're trying to sell the Royals to the fans. There are no excuses. We have one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world. But we just stink at home."
"You would hope it would be a new year, that it would change." Muser said. "And it is awfully early to say we're going to be a terrible home ball club. But it is a concern. I don't think our club ever came to the ballpark not prepared. I can't figure it out."
Twins' catcher Terry Steinbach said the Royals were still a young team.
"You go through these things at times. The thing you have to remember is: it's a long season, and each game is nine innings," he said.
Help us celebrate the spring break experiences of our volunteers!
For more information call: 864-4073
Thursday, April 22,1999 5-7 p.m.Woodruff Auditorium Kansas Union
--financial compensation upon completion of Study·Fax Number 913-588-4060
HARBOUR LIGHTS
*Daily Drink Specials*
841-1960
1031 Mass.
Downtown
Alternative Spring Break Multi-Media Celebration
We Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign USED & New Sports Equipment
841-PLAY
1029 Massachusetts
PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS
Search for preselected earth friendly items
Tomorrow!!
Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
Win a backpack from Eastpack or Jansport! All participants who fill out forms will receive a discount coupon for
20% off
merchandise!
( coupon excludes electronics, food, computers and special orders)
Hey Guys GOT SOMETHING PIERCED? we've got cash for you
- Must have one or
- Healthy Males 18-40
- Must have one or more Body Piercings
- Free Metal Allergy Testing
- Testing will be in Lawrence at Watkins Health Center the week of April 26th
913-588-6028 For further Information Call Watkins Health Center
IF YOU'RE PREGNANT AND YOU NEED HELP NOW...
Birthright
CALL
For a confidential, caring friend, call us. We're here to listen and talk with you.
FREE PREGNANCY TESTING.
843-4821 204W.13th
Monday 1-3
Tuesday 2-4
Wednesday 12-2
Thursday 11-1, 6-8
Friday 3-5
Saturday 10-12
college credit—YOUR WAY Earn University of Kansas undergraduate and graduate credit through Select from more than 140 course offerings. Independent Study in your own space and at your own pace.
On campus lesson drop off:
Information Desk
Level 4
Level 4
Kansas Union
New Continuing Education Building
1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047-1625
800/532-6772 or 785/864-4440
FREE PARKING!
Catalogs and Enrollment Forms Available Online at http://www.kumc.edu/kucs/ice Or Call 785/864-7866